BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact dual-mode manual pump such as for inflating and that in one mode provides a low pressure of air per pump stroke and in another mode provides a high pressure per stroke.
2. Description of the Related Art
Taiwan patent No. 228,257 discloses a pump including a head, an air duct connected with the head, a first cylinder, and a second cylinder. A valve joint is formed on an end of the head for connecting with a valve of a tire. The first cylinder is tubular and movable axially with respect to the air duct. The second cylinder receives and is movable axially with respect to the first cylinder. The air duct, the first and second cylinders form a tripartite telescopic design. A base formed in the second cylinder is selectable to couple with a base formed in the first cylinder to prove the pump to be selectable between low pressure and high pressure pumping modes.
However, this pump suffers some problems. One problem is that the first cylinder must be received in the second cylinder and the two bases must be coupled with each other to switch low pressure and high pressure pumping modes. It is time consuming to switch the pump between the two modes and any time loss would be crucial for a rider who is using the pump during the racing competition. Another problem is that the pump having a longer length so that using the pump in a narrow space is inconvenient.
The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a compact manual pump having selectable low pressure and high pressure pumping modes includes a body, a valve assembly connected with the body, a first cylinder assembly rotatable with respect to the body to switch between low pressure and high pressure pumping modes, and a second cylinder assembly movable reciprocally with the first cylinder assembly to induce air from the atmosphere. The body includes first and second collect inlets, and an exhaust outlet. The first cylinder assembly includes a seat, first and second inflating inlets. While the first cylinder assembly is rotated to switch to low pressure pumping mode, the first inflating inlet is connected with a first collect inlet and the second inflating inlet is connected with a second collect inlet and an exhaust outlet is blocked by the seat. While the first cylinder assembly is rotated to switch to high pressure pumping mode, the first inflating inlet is connected with the first collect inlet and the second inflating inlet is connected with the exhaust outlet and the second collect inlet is blocked by the seat.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention that the compact manual pump is selectable for low pressure and high pressure pumping modes.
It is another object of the present invention that the first cylinder assembly is rotatable with respect to the body to immediately switch to low pressure and high pressure pumping modes It is a further object of the present invention that the compact manual pump is compact and can create a flush outlook for aesthetic reason.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For the present disclosure to be easily understood and readily practiced, the present disclosure will now be described for the purpose of illustration not limitation, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein;
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compact manual pump in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the compact manual pump of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged cross sectional view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the compact manual pump of FIG. 1 switched to the low pressure pumping mode and suctioning air.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the compact manual pump of FIG. 1 switched to the low pressure pumping mode and aerating air.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 showing the compact manual pump switched to high pressure pumping mode.
FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is another cross sectional view of FIG. 10.
FIG. 13 is a partial, enlarged cross sectional view of FIG. 10.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the compact manual pump of FIG. 10 switched to the high pressure pumping mode and suctioning air.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the compact manual pump of FIG. 10 switched to the high pressure pumping mode and aerating air.
FIG. 16 is a partial, enlarged cross sectional view of FIG. 15.
All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.
Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “inner”, “outer”, “side”, “end”, “portion”, “section”, “longitudinal”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9, a compact manual pump 10 in accordance with the present invention generally includes a body 20, a valve assembly 30, a first cylinder assembly 40, and a second cylinder assembly 50. The first cylinder assembly 40 is rotatable with respect to the body 20 to switch low pressure or high pressure pumping mode.
The body 20 is defined first and second axes X and Y extending therein and the second axis Y is vertically intersected with the first axis X. The body 20 has first, second, third, and fourth ends 201, 202, 203 and 204. The first and second ends 201 and 202 extend along the first axis X and are disposed opposite to each other. The third and fourth ends 203 and 204 extend along the second axis Y and are disposed opposite to each other. The body 20 includes a chamber 21 disposed adjacent to the fourth end 204, collect and exhaust channels 22 and 23 disposed separately, and a pressure gauge 24 disposed at the third end 203. The chamber 21 is located at the first end 201 and passes through two opposite sides of the body 20. The chamber 21 further includes an axis extending through two opposite ends thereof and disposed vertical with and not intersected with the first and second axes X and Y. The collect channel 22 includes a collect outlet 221 connected with the chamber 21, first and second collect inlets 222 and 223 disposed adjacent to the second end 202. An axis of the first collect inlet 222 is located along the first axis X, and an axis of the second collect inlet 223 is located at a first position radially spaced from the first axis X. A first radial distance R1 is defined between the axis of the first collect inlet 222 and the axis of the second collect inlet 223. The exhaust channel 23 includes an exhaust inlet 231 connected with an exterior surface of the body 20 and an exhaust outlet 232 disposed at the second end 202. An axis of the exhaust outlet 232 is located at a second position radially spaced from the first axis X. A second radial distance R2 is defined between the axis of the exhaust outlet 232 and the axis of the first collect inlet 222. The second radial distance R2 is equal to the first radial distance R1. An included angle formed between the first and second radial distances R1 and R2 is 90 degrees. The pressure gauge 24 includes a pressure channel 241 connected with the chamber 21.
The valve assembly 30 includes a joint 31, a nozzle head 32, and a flexible tube 33 connected between the joint 31 and the nozzle head 32. The joint 31 is L-shaped and pivotally connected with the chamber 21 by a fastener 34, so that a user can rotate the nozzle head 32 to a suiting position for connecting a valve allowed to inflate.
The first cylinder assembly 40 is pivotally connected with the second end 202 of the body 20, and rotatable with respect to the body 20 about the first axis X to switch between low pressure and high pressure pumping modes. The first cylinder assembly 40 includes a seat 41, inner and outer cylinders 42 and 43. An inner diameter defined in the inner cylinder 42 is less than an inner diameter defined in the outer cylinder 43. The seat 41 includes pivoting and connecting ends 411 and 412 extending along the first axis X and disposed opposite to each other. The pivoting end 411 is pivotally connected with the second 202 of the body 20. A non-circular shaped groove 413 is formed at a peripheral edge of the pivoting end 411. An annular wall 25 is formed at the second 202 of the body 20 and adapted to surround the peripheral edge of the pivoting end 411. The annular wall 25 includes two through holes 251 disposed opposite to the groove 413. The two through holes 251 are disposed extending towards a longitudinal direction extending parallel to the second axis Y and penetrating to the annular wall 25. A pair of restricting pin 44 is disposed through the through holes 251 and the groove 413, respectively to limit the seat 41 rotatable in the annular wall 25 and not slidable along the first axis X. Thus, the first cylinder assembly 40 cannot depart from the body 20. The groove 413 includes first and second level sides 414 and 415 selectively abutted against the pair of restricting pin 44 respectively. When the first cylinder assembly 40 is switched to low pressure pumping mode, the first level side 414 is abutted against the restricting pin 44. The first and second level sides 414 and 415 extend longitudinally to form an included angle equal to 90 degrees, so that the seat 41 is able to be rotated with respect to the body 20 about 90 degrees. The seat 41 includes first and second inflating channels 45 and 46 not connected with each other therein. The first inflating channel 45 includes a first inflating inlet 451 disposed at the pivoting end 411 and a first inflating outlet 452 disposed at the connecting end 412. An axis defined in the first inflating inlet 451 is extends along the first axis X, so that the first inflating inlet 451 is connected with the first collect inlet 222. An axis defined in the first inflating outlet 452 is located on the first axis X, so that the first inflating outlet 452 is connected with the inner cylinder 42. The second inflating channel 46 includes a second inflating inlet 461 and a second inflating outlet 462. A third radial distance R3 is defined between an axis defined in the second inflating inlet 461 and the axis defined in the first inflating inlet 451. A fourth radial distance R4 is defined between an axis defined in the second inflating outlet 462 and the axis defined in the first inflating outlet 452. The third radial distance R3 is equal to the fourth radial distance R4, and the third radial distance R3 is equal to the first radial distance R1. Hence, the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotatable with respect to the body 20 to make the second inflating inlet 461 selectively connect with the second collect inlet 223 or the exhaust outlet 232, so that the first cylinder assembly 40 is switched to low pressure or high pressure pumping mode. An end of the inner cylinder 42 is connected with the a central portion of the connecting end 412 of the seat 41, and a axis defined in the inner cylinder 42 and the first axis X are collinear, so that the first inflating outlet 452 is connected and communicated with the inner cylinder 42. The inner cylinder 42 includes a first piston 47 disposed opposite to the seat 41 therein. A check valve 471 for backflow prevention is mounted between the first piston 47 and the inner cylinder 42. An end of the outer cylinder 43 is connected with a periphery of the connecting end 412 of the seat 40 by two screws 431. The outer cylinder 43 includes a first cap 432 disposed opposite to the seat 41. At least one slot 433 is formed in the first cap 432. The seat 41 further includes an annular trough 416 formed on the periphery of the connecting end 412 and a first non-return ring 417 for backflow prevention mounted between the annular trough 416 and the outer cylinder 43.
The second cylinder assembly 50 is movable reciprocally with respect to the first cylinder assembly 40 to induce air from the atmosphere into the first and second cylinder assemblies 40 and 50. The second cylinder assembly 50 includes a hollow bar 51, an intake valve 52 mounded on an end of the hollow bar 51, and a second piston 53 mounded on another end of the hollow bar 51. The second piston 53 is disposed between the inner and outer cylinders 42 and 43 to provide the hollow bar 51 securely located between the inner and outer cylinders 42 and 43. An inner surface of the hollow bar 51 is contacted with a periphery surface of the first piston 47 to allow air flowing through the first piston 47 in only one direction, and inner and outer surfaces of the second piston 53 is respectively contacted with the inner and outer cylinders 42 and 43 to allow air flowing through the inner and outer cylinders 42 and 43 in only one direction. A second non-return ring 521 is mounted between the intake valve 52 and the hollow bar 51 to prevent air flowing from the hollow bar 51 to the atmosphere. A second cap 522 is mounted on a periphery of the intake valve 52. An end of the second cap 522 is connected with at least one block 523 selectively engaged with the at least one slot 433 to provide the second cylinder assembly 50 selectively located at and not movable reciprocally with respect to the first cylinder assembly 40. A first sleeve 48 is disposed on a periphery of the first cylinder assembly 40, and a second sleeve 54 is disposed on a periphery of the second cylinder assembly 50. Hence, an external diameter defined on the first sleeve 48 is equal to an external diameter defined on the second sleeve 54, so that the appearance of the compact manual pump 10 is compact and can create a flush outlook for aesthetic reason. The first sleeve 48 is rotatable by the user to switch low pressure or high pressure pumping mode. The second sleeve 54 is holdable by the user. A clamp 49 is mounted on the periphery of the first cylinder assembly 40 to fix the flexible tube 33.
While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to low pressure pumping mode, the first inflating inlet 451 is connected with the first collect inlet 222, and the second inflating inlet 461 is connected with the second collect inlet 223, and the exhaust outlet 232 is blocked by the seat 41. While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to high pressure pumping mode, the first inflating inlet 451 is connected with the first collect inlet 222, and the second inflating inlet 461 is connected with the exhaust outlet 232, and the second collect inlet 223 is blocked by the seat 41.
The first cylinder assembly 40 further includes first, second, and third airtight rings 401, 402, and 403 disposed between the pivoting end 411 of the seat 41 and the second end 202 of the body 20. While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to low pressure pumping mode, the first airtight ring 401 is disposed between the first inflating inlet 451 and the first collect inlet 222, and the second airtight ring 402 is disposed between the second inflating inlet 461 and the second collect inlet 223 to provide airtightness. While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to high pressure pumping mode, the first airtight ring 401 is disposed between the first inflating inlet 451 and the first collect inlet 222, and the second airtight ring 402 is disposed between the second inflating inlet 461 and the exhaust outlet 232, and the third airtight ring 403 is disposed between the pivoting end 411 and the second collect inlet 223 to provide airtightness.
While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to low pressure pumping mode, the second cylinder assembly 50 is moved opposite to the first cylinder assembly 40 to induce air from the atmosphere passing through the second piston 53 into the outer cylinder 43 and a space formed between the inner cylinder 42 and the seat 41. Simultaneously, air is induced passing through the intake valve 52 into a space formed between the hollow bar 51 and the first piston 47. While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to low pressure pumping mode, the second cylinder assembly 50 is moved to close to the first cylinder assembly 40, air in the second piston 53, the outer cylinder 43, and the space formed between the inner cylinder 42 and the seat 41 is urged past the first non-return ring 417, so that air passes through the second inflating outlet 462, the second inflating channel 46, the second inflating inlet 461, and the second collect inlet 223 into the collect channel 22. Simultaneously, air in the space formed between the hollow bar 51 and the first piston 47 passes through the check valve 471, the inner cylinder 42, the first inflating outlet 452, the first inflating channel 45, the first inflating inlet 451, and the first collect inlet 222 into the collect channel 22. Because the collect channel 22 collects air flowing from the first and second inflating channel 45 and 46 so that the compact manual pump 10 is able to inflate an object by the valve assembly 30 for low pressure/high volume pumping operation. Additionally, while air flows through the pressure channel 241, the pressure gauge 24 provides to measure air pressure. Generally, the compact manual pump 10 switched to low pressure pumping mode is used with a tire.
Referring to FIGS. 10 through 16, the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotatable with respect to the body 20 to switch from low pressure pumping mode to high pressure pumping mode, so that it is fast and very convenient for the user to switch modes. The second level side 415 is abutted against the one of the restricting pin 44 to switch to high pressure pumping mode. While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to high pressure pumping mode, the first inflating inlet 451 is connected with the first collect inlet 222, and the second inflating inlet 461 is connected with the exhaust outlet 232, and the second collect inlet 223 is blocked by the seat 41. While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to high pressure pumping mode, the second cylinder assembly 50 is moved opposite to the first cylinder assembly 40 to induce air from the atmosphere passing through the second piston 53 into the outer cylinder 43 and the space formed between the inner cylinder 42 and the seat 41. Simultaneously, air is induced passing through the intake valve 52 into the space formed between the hollow bar 51 and the first piston 47.
While the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotated to switch to high pressure pumping mode, the second cylinder assembly 50 is moved to close to the first cylinder assembly 40, air in the second piston 53, the outer cylinder 43, and the space formed between the inner cylinder 42 and the seat 41 is urged past the first non-return ring 417, so that air passes through the second inflating outlet 462, the second inflating channel 46, the second inflating inlet 461, and the exhaust outlet 232 into the exhaust channel 23. Simultaneously, air in the space formed between the hollow bar 51 and the first piston 47 passes through the check valve 471, the inner cylinder 42, the first inflating outlet 452, the first inflating channel 45, the first inflating inlet 451, and the first collect inlet 222 into the collect channel 22. Hence, air passing through the second inflating channel 46 into the exhaust channel 23 is urged past through exhaust inlet 231 into the atmosphere. Because the collect channel 22 only collects air flowing from the first inflating channel 45 so that the compact manual pump 10 is able to inflate an object by the valve assembly 30 for high pressure/low volume pumping operation. Additionally, while air flows through the pressure channel 241, the pressure gauge 24 provides to measure air pressure. Generally, the compact manual pump 10 switched to high pressure pumping mode is used with a shock absorber.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention that the compact manual pump 10 is selectable for low pressure and high pressure pumping modes.
It is another object of the present invention that the first cylinder assembly 40 is rotatable with respect to the body 20 to immediately switch to low pressure and high pressure pumping modes
It is a further object of the present invention that the compact manual pump 10 is compact and can create a flush outlook for aesthetic reason.
Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiment described herein is to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.